Bedclothes holder



Jan. 1s; 1949.

H. D. cALABRo 2,459,497 BEDCLOTHES HOLDER Filed Aug. 7, 1946 FIG. 4

' HELEN D ALABRo' INVENTOR BYM VATTORNE y Patented Jan. 18, 1949 l UNITED STATES PATENT oFFiCE BEDCLOTHES HOLDER Helen` D. Calabro, LcxiiigizoinMass,.v Application August 7, 1946, Serial No. 689,001 3` Claims. (Cl. 24e-72,5)

My invention relates, inn-general, to--hclcling or theanclior memberat a;relativelyvierge-,distance securing devices, ancimore particularly has ref,- from the periphery of: the enchormember.

@rence to devices iorholclingor maintaining,-bod` Further objects: o imy: invention-reside in the clothes or bed. coverings predeterminedly umn provision in abedclothes holder of the `character aimed.` 5 described ofan anchor member in the form of An important object. of my invention is the a. thinv and normallyiiiatelementl having a rel, provision of 'bedclotlfies-holdingV means ofsimple ativelylarge surfacea'igea imdubai/ing mmm-ent design and facile` operation` which are capable flexibility tolconform ingeneralto the contact.- of predeterminedly maintaining bedclothes,cover ing surfacev contour, of a, matti-@Sg support and ing elements and the like onv a bed in and, close 10 mattress between which it-isins to a position of,v placement most desirable to a person using theI bedl Wliileiholcling the bedclothes loosely toallow'- such a. user freedom the bedclothes to be hel d Other objects of the invention are toprovicle a ybeciclothes holder havi g an anchor member adapted to be frictionally` engaged between a For a fuller understandingof-thenature and mattress Supportl andimatmss Clampsl adapted objects of the invention, reference should -be to bendetachablv er1-eased with the bedeloihes U0 had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing `wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective-view oi" a bedclothes holding device: i

Fig. 2 is a perspective viewgv with parts broken away, of a bed and shows the, deviceoi` Fig. 1 in operation; i i

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal and partial sectional elevation of the element of-'the device of` Fig. 1 which forms. anV anehorvmemberfor-the demember; and. also to provide 3a `device of the 30 chor to a location ,above the `,mattress When the 35 I ing length of' th COnneCngMmemb-ers may be 40 Fig. 4L is a partialplan viewr of a-i-iovel base Varie L element used 1n theA construction of the anchor Stm other objects are to provide in a bed member and shows the connecting members oi clothes holding device, a pair of highly exi'ble he flevce secured to the base elelment connecting members each securing an individual with reference to Fig 1' a bede othes holdmg clamp to an anchor membernaclapteto be fric- 45 dem@ of the Character Conlfehplated by my 11.11-

to permit the clamps tor be engaged with a bed dhtachablecclamps I 4 and I5, andA individual covering ybeing held," ata location above `and to highly ffXlblev Connecting members Il and l2 the left and-right sides of the anchor member() which respech'vel'y Secure" 01 Connect Clamps 4 whilehcnging loosely 'between the clamps and the and 5 tothe anchor membersanchor member, as well ars to provide` in such a The anchor member 'U ViS adaptedl to ybe fricdevicc means for seeurin-geaeh flexible member ti'onally engaged betweena mattress support and to the anchor member-whereby tension exerted mattress of a bed,onWhich-beciclothes@recoveron the connecting member` is transmitted-i into w55 ing element arerrtoibeiield-ganqlclamps |4` and y the inner and outer l5 engaged with such bedclothes in a manner which will subsequently appear.

In carrying the invention into a unique and novel anchor member shown in Fig. `3 as having a base or support l1 covered preferably with quilted material IB. The base element is formed of a thin and normally fiat material having sufficient flexibility to conform in general to the contacting surface contours of the mattress support and mattress when it is inserted therebetween. inasmuch as anchor member lll is held in operating position by frictional engagement between a mattress support and mattress, the expedient of using a thin flexible normally at material for base element l1 will increase the resistance of the anchor member to disengagement. As examples of suitable material, of which there are many, cardboard and sheet metal may be named for use in forming base element l1.

The covering l8,for the base element has several functions; It improves the appearance of the device and is designed to increase the overall frictional resistance of anchor member l0 when it is operating, By the use of a quilted type of covering, a general conformation of its bearing surface to the contactingsurface contour of the mattress support and mattress may be expected to increase the overall frictional resistance offered by the anchor member.

In addition, coveringv material may be selected which possesses the specific property of offering frictional resistance to mattress ticking. To this end, a rough surfaced-material, or a material which has a tendency to cling to the covering of a mattress or mattress support is desired. Many woven and knitted materials of natural andsynthetic threads and yarns are suitable. Certain synthetic sheet plastics show a remarkable ability to cling to bed ticking, such as is customarily used in covering mattressesgbox springs and the like, and sheet plastics of this lcharacter may be named as preferred. Rubber hydrochloride plastics and certain vinyl compounds, including copolymers i having this ability especially when in sheet form. Other suitable covering materials, not of the plastic sheet type, may be found in wool, cotton, upholstery goods and in rayon and the like. 1

In making the quilted cover, the space between layer thereof may, if desired, be filled with a fibrous material I9 such as cotton. The covering I8 may be made by doubling a strip of quilted material upon itself and closing thesides of the which the base element is inserted in the sheath thus formed and the open end of the covering is closed by stitching.

The shape of anchor member l0 is not of great importance, It may lar or have an irregular outline. The main requirement is that it have a relatively large surface or bearing area. An anchor member of rectangular shape having overall dimensions of about l0 inches by 4 inches has proven very satisfacory.

A feature of my invention resides in the use of a plurality of clamps, each connected to anchor member l0 by an individual connecting member. It is an essential in this concept that connecting members Il and |12 be formed of flexible although relatively strong material. In fact, the connecting members should possess the property of iiaccidlty to a great degree. String, twine,

cord and the like are suitable for use as connectvinyl chloride therein, display doubled strip by stitching; aftcr be round, square, rectanguing members. Ribbons, bands and strips, formed of quilted or synthetic materials and fabrics, may also be employed. At least from the standpoint of appearance, connecting members formed of 'ribbon are preferred. The connecting members ll and l2 are relatively long, and when fully extended may reach from one to two feet from anchor member iii, an extension of about 18 inches satisfactorily meeting most conditions of use. However, the length to which the connecting members may be extended is not critical within the limits indicated, as will be obvious in the light of my full disclosure of the invention.

Connecting members ll and l2 are each secured near one end tc'anchor member IU near the periphery of that portion thereof which is adjacent the side of a bed when the holding device is in operation. For example, when the anchor member is of rectangular shape these connections will be made near an end thereof. Connecting members Ii and l2 may be fixed to covering I8 and to base element i1 at spaced apart locations which are adjacent respective edges thereof. The locations of fixture for the connecting members are chosen so that they will generally be aligned lengthwise of the bed when the anchor member is functioning.

Since both covering IS and base element il are of relatively thin material, and connecting members ll and l2 are fixed to either at positions close to an edge thereof, it is desirable to secure the connecting members to the covering or base element so that tension exerted on them is transmitted to points inwardly and centrally of the anchor member as a Whole and at a relatively large distance from the edges of the anchor member. By such expedient, tearing or rupture of the covering 1,8 or bending or distortion of base member l1 and hence the ultimate failure of the anchor member itself may be overcome. By way of illustration, transmission of stress away from the edges of the anchor member, when connecting members Il and l2 are ribbons, may be effected by xing each ribbon to covering le or base element I1 in a flat condition and so that its longitudinal axis is inclined to the edge of the anchor member and points centrally of the anchor member, or in other words so that the connecting members extend generally in a radial direction outwardly from the anchor member.

As already indicated, covering IB is formed of a piece of quilted material which may be doubled over upon itself. This procedure forms the opposed outer covering surfaces of covering i8 but leaves the covering open along three edges which are closed by French seaming practices, that is, by turning over a portion or strip of the covering material along-and adjacent each unconnected edge and by stitching the outer surfaces and their turned-over portions together with suitable thread. This means that base member l1 is somewhat smaller than covering I8. Of course, covering i8 may be formed of two pieces of quilted material which are superposed on each other which may be secured together by suitably stitching the same, as, for example by French searning. In assembling anchor member lfcovering i3 may be partially French seamed to provide three closed or-secured edges while leaving open the edge thereof t0 which connecting members I l and l2 are to be attached. Base member l1 is then inserted in the partially closed covering I8 and with connecting members H and I2 inserted between the edges of covering i8, at the desired inclination to such end, closure is effected while `@covering ,Id :left

:"5 asecungftherconnectingfmemhersttothetowering fsstitclnng fthromgh :the :outer .snffaces mf @the fovengfandiitsradaeentturned-awel' portlonsras :well was ithrosugh' the connecting :members themrselvzes. lInFig. :1, sconnectingrimembers 5H `:and I 2 :arefshown zas secured 'ltoicoyering t8 emily.

.zByr-fsecnringaeonnecting members H .fand ffm to dname lement 41 av.1f:on'v-.enient fof correctly `iis provided. For example, :if

fastening mealns :such as .ement #1, with .:connecting members M @and :l2 fsecuned Vdzhereeto, is :einser-ted vfwithin covering :.l, the :connecting sanenibens will :be hel Fin :their desired @position of arrangement The edge fof fopen y-for .insertion ment :4.-:1 A#withfattarsnedconnecting mcmbersflmay lbe closed byfstitchingfin theJnanner .ascribed whereby fconneoting memben f l :will also tbe :secured Ito @the .-covering` desired=:the:stitohing @may stop just :short tof :t'he` L connectingrmembers on each side thereof.

4 discloses .a simpleuconstruction whereby .connecting members 4| 1and '42 zareiquicklyfand accurately `located rand :secured iin :sdesired trela- :tion tofa ,modied ffbase :anchor ,member asimilar `in :all father respects `to anchor member l0. Base element 4111s anotched .aedistance from the :forward end .of element 4:1 so `enf ithe :connecting .members :which are adapted VtothefnIigagedfbyr the In this construction, @connecting-members 4| and 42 are portionsmrzbranohestofralong .single ,piece of y.highly ex'ible fmaterial Assuming Vthat connecting length of lribbon, :1t vis placed piece i410 'is `La long :in :a :flat :condition ran adhesive. baise-eleelement 41 used with an l ,40 'theanchor member "l0 ":Single connectingnpiecefo'is employedxitiismofbe AHolfsclwe'd that 'Lbyzmranging :this :piece @so :as fito nectingrmember `is :provided for securing each lhedolothes clamp .to the anchor `member with `fvvhiclfi base element 41 isassociated In this're- .::gard,.it maybe observed that if the branches of the ribbon `or connecting piece 40 are severed Vat clamps I4 .and .connecting members l l and l2, are

The free end of each connecting member is inserted through the spring' is knotted. 'This leaves nec'tingmember, but nevertheless retained on the instances when a ends o'f its conoverall length of the latter required. It is, therefore, desirable to shorten the working length of the connecting member. `Such may be accomplished "by 'sliding the clamp relative to its connecting While it is retained thereon, towards to a desired location and then Wrapping the 4portion of the connecting necting member, the 35 is greater .than that Aunderhaseelement411.infalignmentrrowengage- 1f.- 1"' ment, -withlthernotches Maand with :thefzfree @non tions of the `ribbon `extending substantially `-equally on oppositesides of )the base felement. the ribbon lthen rpulie'd tightly and -in La iat-.condition anto `1eng:agement with a fnotch43 and over thefunperrsurfacezoftthe `:base `element 4'1 fin a direction fdiagonalilytof the :base :element `and :so #that t-he ribbon or `cormecting Staples '44 `are.lomted hat aslight @distance :from the forward edge or the edge of base element 41 .adapted to `|loe tnearesta Asideof anbedwhen the .anchor :member :is operati ditional fastening .means maybeemployed ras for example the staple 45 vfor `securing#ribbon 40 nto base `element 41 where fit crosses over 1itself, -al- `though lsu ch '.additional means are .not :essential vand are employedctoffassist in maintaining :the Apierrebr ribbonv-40 incorrectly Positioned relation :rebase-.elemental While intheeconstruction `showinintl'ig. a

of reach connecting selectively Varied.

The use and operation 4Jof Fig. -1 y foregoing member H and l2 may be right :of Ithe drawing.

fA-sfs'hown in Fig. 2,4m anchor member IU of a holding-device is inserted between mattress supadiacenti such side with vthe anchor so posi- .:tioned that the `aligned spaced-apart locations ,-0 1.Wl'iere"connectingmembers H and I2 are secured to f the aanohoronember are generally parallel :to wher-.length `@dimension vof the bed. Connecting members M :and :l21are suiciently long .to permit @clamps d4 and t5 .to be positioned well above :5 mattresse whereby the .clamps .may be 'engaged with the covering element 23 at positions on opposite sides of anchor member li) towards the foot and the head of the bed as well as above the anchor member, while each connecting member hangs loosely between its respective clamp and the anchor member. Two of the holding devices of Fig. l are employed, one on each side of the bed located substantially opposite each other and from about l2 to 27 inches from the ioot of the bed although such a distance is not critical. ln practice, location of the anchor members at a distance oi' from 18 to 24 inches from the foot of the bed proves generally satisiactory.

In connecting the device for operating, after anchor member IU has been positioned between the mattress support and mattress, the clamp nearest the head oi the bed, that is clamp I4 of Fig. 2, is attached to a side of covering 23`which is assumed as spread upon the bed in a position most suited to the user. The connecting member l l, if too long, is then drawn up and tied whereby to give the connecting member a working length such that covering element 23 can only move towards the side oi the bed most distant from or opposite the holding device to a position wherein its side is adjacent the top of the mattress. Thus, when covering element '3 is in its desired normal position, connecting member H will hang loosely along the side ci the bed. It is to be noted that with clamp il! and'connecting member Il arranged in this manner, movement of covering element 23 towards the head of the bed is also limited.

Having afxed clamp i4, clamp I5 is now en gaged with a side of covering element 23. Connecting member l2, if necessary, then has its working length adjusted in a manner similar to that described for member Il. The working length for connecting member l2 is selected so as to restrain movement of covering element 23 to the opposite side of the bed from the holding device and also towards the iootyoi the bed. In this latter regard, the working length of connecting member l2 and the position of engagement o its clamp i5 is such that the clamp will not be moved or will not reach over the end of the bed. Like connecting member H, the connecting member l2 is adapted to hang loosely over the edge of the bed when covering element 23 is in its normal position.

As a paii` oi the holding devices of Fig. l are employed, a covering element may be predeterminedly maintained on a bed in and close to a position of placement most desirable to a person using the bed while holding the covering loosely whereby to allow such a user freedom of movement when occupying the bed. At the same time, the covering is very securely held by the device, yet is restrained within each reach and is limited in its movement towards the sides and towards the foot and head of the bed whereby the user is continuously lrept substantially covered.

These advantages are made possible by securing the holding device to the covering at a plurality oi locations and what in effect amounts to connecting these locations individually to the side of the bed. By using a plurality of clamps, certain loads pulling on them are divided so that each clamp receives only a portion of such load. By using an individual connecting member for each clamp, loading of the anchor member is either better or more evenly distributediall to theend of preventing ready disengagement-"of respective clamp 'pressure contact therewith, a,

the clamps and displacement of the anchor member of the device from their respective operating positions. In addition, the thin and flexible type of anchor member is designed to offer high frictional resistance whereby it is maintained in desired operating position under adverse conditions.

Further, by securing the clamps to the connecting members rather than having them constantly slidable thereon, and by the use of highly flexible connecting members, means are provided when the covering is moved from its normal position for overcoming undesired entanglement of the clamps and the connecting members with the sides and ends of the bed whereby the clamps become disengaged when it is attempted to return the covering to normal position. Since the connecting members are not resilient they cannot be stretched so as to permit a clamp to be caught on the end of the bed. Furthermore, since each clamp is fixed to what amounts to the end of a tie line without loops or bends therein, substantially no entanglement can occur and any that does would be of such a character that it could be overcome by only a slight pull incapable of disengaging the clamps or the anchor member.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawing, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specic features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween,

What is claimed is:

1. A device for holding bedclothes on a bed adapted to have a mattress support and mattress, said device comprising a relatively flat anchor member adapted to be irictionally engaged between said mattress support and mattress, a pair of relatively long and highly flexible connecting membersextending from said anchor member and xed thereto at spaced apart locations near an edge of the anchor member in converging relation from said edge towards the center o the anchor member, and a pair of clamps, one for each connecting member, each clamp having coil spring operating means and being adapted to be detachably engaged with bedclothes to be held on said bed, each connecting member extending through the coil spring operating means of its whereby said clamp is slidable on the connecting member with which it is associated and is adjustably securable to'said connecting member'between said anchor member and the free end of the connecting member by the tieing of said connecting member to said clamp.

2. A device for holding bedclothes on a bed adapted'to have a mattress support and mattress, said device comprising an anchor member having an element. oi relatively large area which is adapted to be frictionally held between said mattress support and mattress and which is'formed of normally at but flexible sheet material,` a cover of a thin pliable material engaged over said element and adapted to increase the resistance'of said elementjto movement'relative to surf-aces in pair of relatively long and highly exible connecting members extending from -said fanchormember and fixed said `anchor member and the free end of the l0 member by the tieing of said connecting member HELEN D. CALABRO'. 3. A device for holding bedclothes on a bed i adapted to have a mattress support and mattress, REFERENCES CITED comprising an anchor member having 15 The following references are of record in the an element of relatively large area which 1s of this patent:

tress support and mattress and which is formed UNITED STATES ,PATENTS of normally hat but flexible sheet material, a pair Number Name Date of relatively long and highly flexible connecting 20 413,071 Lowe Oct. 15, 1889 members extending from said anchor member 426,011 Haight Apr. 22, 1890 and xed thereto at spaced apart locations near 664,855 Harris Jan. l, 1901 an edge of the anchor member in converging rela- 705,105 Lykens July 22, 1902 tion from said edge towards the center of the an- 352,180 Henman Apr. 30, -1907 chor member, a cloth-like cover substantially eng5 1,309,976 Zipin et al July 15, 1919 tirely covering said element and adapted to in- 2,223,412 Gartz Dec. 3, 1940 crease the resistance of said element to move- 2,321,394 King June 8, 1943 ment relative to surfaces in pressure contact 2,326,399 Shields Aug. 10, 1943 therewith said cover being provided with a pair of openings, one for each connecting member, at 30 FOREIGN PATENTS the end of said cover adjacent the edge of said Number Country Date anchor member near which said connecting 17,441 Great Britain July 15, 1919 members are aillxed to the anchor member, each 153,953 Australia Aug. 10, 1938 connecting member extending through its respec- 558,402 Great Britain-: :-Iu Jan. 4, 1944 

